‘I think we’ve had enough of this—don’t you?’
And he replied:
‘Oh, plenty; but I don’t see how we’re to get rid of him, unless I go out and fight him.’
But the Princess answered:
‘Oh, I don’t think you need do that, although it’s very good of you to offer—but you’ve forgotten all about the Owl.’ So she took the Owl off her shoulder, and putting it on the horse’s head with its face to her she asked it:
‘You can drive him away, can’t you, dear Owl?’
And the Owl nodded gravely. So the Princess said:
‘Then I wish you would—only don’t hurt him; only drive him away.’
As she said this a wonderful change came over the Owl. It began to grow bigger and bigger, until it quite covered them over as it spread its wings to fly. Merrymineral seemed to know what was coming, for he drew his steed’s reins up tight and examined his stirrups and saddle. And then, as the Owl flew towards him, he tried to spur the golden dragon against him; but the dragon refused to move, and at last it turned and bolted with its tail between its legs, like a whipped dog.